Textile showing Artemis and Actaeon
From
Akhmin, Egypt
Early Coptic period, around the 4th century AD
Early Coptic period, around the 4th century AD
Tapestry
made of multi-coloured wool on linen
During the
Coptic period textiles for clothing, wall hangings and rugs were heavily
decorated. The use of large-scale figures on this example, suggests that it was
a wall hanging rather than something that was intended to be worn.
The male
and female figures wear or carry items that identify them. The pointed hat that
the man wears is of western Asiatic origin, and denotes heroic or divine
status. The woman carries a bow, and has a quiver with three arrows on her back
and is associated with hunting. It is likely that these are goddess of the hunt
Artemis and Actaeon. According to Greek myth, Actaeon was transformed into a
deer, and mistakenly killed by Artemis.
The pose of
the central figures, their dress and details, such as the stress on the whites
of the eyes, heavy eyebrows and stylized hair, are distinctively Coptic. The
intricacy of the side and central panels is also characteristic of Coptic work.
The borders are formalized floral patterns, surrounding figures of dancing men
and women. In the more elaborate central panel, the figures are distinguished
by their shields and flowing cloaks.
M.
Caygill, The British Museum A-Z compani (London, The British
Museum Press, 1999)
T.G.H.
James, An introduction to ancient Egy (London, 1979)
S. Quirke
and A.J. Spencer, The British Museum book of anc (London, The
British Museum Press, 1992)